Monday, April 4, 2011

Seeking The Peace Of The Kingdom

Seeking God…to Teach the Nations His Way of Peace

The thoughts for this day, about God teaching the nations His ways of peace, reminded me of an episode that occurred a few months back at work.

On Friday mornings at work, before our work day begins, I meet with a fellow co-worker for prayer.  We span the globe, the nation, and our workplace.  Little did I know how our prayers would unfold this day.

I was looking for a co-worker  to ask him a question about a program and found him gathered with a group of about 4 or 5 others listening to one explain the rationale of having their teenager use a contraceptive because they were going to choose to become sexually active.  When this person got done, and since I had heard a good smattering of the explanation, the speaker turned the group’s attention to me and asked, “So, Bernie what do you think?”

I thought, “Wow, Lord”.  I could have quoted verses to them but that’s not what was needed now.  Instead I said something like, “It’s commendable that you want to protect your child, but all the things you proposed won’t protect their character, or their heart and emotions, or even their physical well-being.  Where is the special-ness in being used and given away over and over and over?  There are a number of serious STDs that are transmitted by skin to skin contact that could leave your child ruined for the remainder of their life – unable to have a child, managing chronic flare ups of legions and boils and warts, and, worst of all, struggling to stay alive with AIDS.  Outside of the one man- one woman marriage relationship, you are exponentially exposed to all these diseases.  (I gave her a link to the Aid to Women website.)

To my utter shock, one of my friends who is more cynical about God than Hawkeye Pierce (on MASH), was visibly nodding his head in agreement as I spoke.

God provided the "teachable" moment.  We had to be willing to show up and be used of Him.  And, "Lo and Behold", even hardened skeptics were willing to acknowledge the (biblically based) wisdom that God wants to impart.

Bernie Hayes

Noelridge Park